"Grandpa, I don't know what this is, it's just for food."
"Bring it to us and take a look."
Zhu Yuanzhang took the food from Zhu Yunwen's hand and looked at it carefully.
This thing is about the length of a child's arm and about two inches wide. It's golden and really beautiful.
I put it under my nose and smelled it, and the fragrance of noodles came to my face.
"What is this?"
The man from the pergola explained with a smile: "This thing was researched by Mr. Su and named bread. However, Mr. Su said that this thing looks like a stick, so it is also called 'Fengyang Long Stick', which is the name of Fengyang Long Stick." Yang's specialties are not expensive, only two yuan each."
"What, isn't it free?" Zhu Yunwen was stunned.
"This guy is dressed as a scholar, right? It clearly says "special products for sale" on it."
Zhu Yunzhen's face turned red. He was a little hungry just now and didn't pay attention when taking the things, so he made a joke.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything. He walked over and took a look again. As the shopkeeper said, there were a row of "Fengyang Long Stick" baskets with the words "special products for sale" written on them.
Then he glanced around and saw that the basket on the other side was full of steamed buns, but it said: "Free to use, no waste."
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a steamed bun and took a bite, and couldn't help frowning: "How could this thing be made...so unpalatable?"
The man in the shed said with a smile: "This is also Mr. Su's idea. He said that hungry refugees will not be picky about whether it tastes good or not. Only people who are not hungry will find it unpalatable. If this steamed bun is made too delicious, in the end, Whose belly will it fall into again?"
"Well, the magistrate has some sense in what he does."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, took a bite of the steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth. He turned back and smiled at the man in the pergola: "Don't waste it."
The uncle from the pergola stretched out his thumb at Zhu Yuanzhang and laughed.
Not long after, their iced tea was also served. Zhu Yuanzhang did not wolf it down this time. He sipped the iced tea while continuing to chat:
"Shopkeeper, you've made a lot of money this month, right?"
"It's not bad," the man from the pergola smiled: "I hand over half of my income to the county government every month, and the rest is enough to support a family."
"What!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and shouted: "This county magistrate is so cruel? He dares to collect half of your tax money! Does he still have the law in his eyes?"
The waiter Erhu was not happy: "What are you yelling about? Isn't it just half of the tax money? If it weren't for Mr. Su, our whole family would have starved to death!"
The uncle from the pergola patted the two tigers gently, sighed and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "I don't know what I know. The old man is from Fengyang. He has been a soldier in the army when he was young. After retiring from the army, he wanted to go back to his hometown and work in peace. A farmer.
But when His Majesty ordered those princes to move to Fengyang, all the good land was almost taken up, and all the old man's family's land was taken by them... Well, I won't talk about this anymore.
Later, Mr. Su saw that the old man's family was pitiful. After building the pergola, he handed it over to the old man to take care of it. He also said that after two years of hard work, it would become the old man's private property.
Sigh... If it weren't for Mr. Su, the old man's family would have died of cold and starvation, and he would have died suddenly on the streets. Not to mention half of the tax money, even if Mr. Su wanted the old man's life, the old man would have given it willingly! "
The more Zhu Yuanzhang listened, the darker his expression became.
In order to develop Fengyang, he encouraged Huaixi nobles to return to Fengyang to settle down. Who would have thought that this would be the result.
Suddenly I remembered what was written in Su Jin's memorial: "Those who are on the field will return to the army and return with their merits. Those who are on the field will be the local people and the tenants will be included. However, if they are left behind, the place will be barren, so they can be compiled." Farming by the people.”
"The one who is on the field is the one who is on the field, the one who is on the field is the one..." Zhu Yuanzhang kept chanting.
Yes, the people on the field have all returned to the nobles, so what do the people eat and drink?
Zhu Yunwen suddenly scolded: "What do you know, an old man? Everything your Majesty does is for the benefit of the people of Fengyang. This is the imperial court's plan. How can you, a short-sighted Shengdou commoner, understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts?"
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be indifferent to Zhu Yunwen's words. After glancing at Zhu Yunxi, he suddenly asked: "Xie'er, what do you think?"
Zhu Yunxi thought for a while and said hesitantly: "I think maybe the emperor...maybe your majesty may have done something wrong, but wouldn't it be good if he corrected it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang touched his head with some relief, smiled and shook his head: "Yes, it's good to correct it, but when a government order is passed, it is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and the well-being of millions of people, how can it be said lightly? Can it be made up for by making corrections?”
After speaking, he stared at Zhu Yunwen: "Wen'er, you must also remember this and never be self-righteous."
"Yes, my grandson remembers it."
After the old man was scolded by Zhu Yunwen, he just thought that these people might not have anything to do with the imperial court, right?
At that moment, he did not dare to speak any more, for fear of causing trouble to Mr. Su, so he hid in the kitchen.
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have disappeared, just staring at the official road in front of him in a daze.
There were especially many trucks today, and it took an hour for the traffic to gradually clear up, and soon a soldier from the road department came to tell them that they could leave.
Zhu Yunwen went to meet the money, and helped Zhu Yuanzhang, who was worried, to get on the carriage. After everyone was seated, Zhou Ji gently raised his whip, and the carriage drove along the wooden track towards Fengyang County.
"Wen'er, let's not go to the inn for a while, but go directly to the county government office."
"Grandpa, what do you mean?"
"This Fengyang County, I'm afraid it's not as simple as we saw. I'm going to meet this Su... What's Su?"
"Su Jin."
"Yes, let's go meet this Su Jin and see if he is really a good official like the old man said."
Zhu Yunwen understood and leaned out to signal Zhou Ji to go straight to the county government office after entering Fengyang County. Zhou Ji respectfully agreed.
The carriage entered Fengyang County, and wherever the eyes could see, there was prosperity everywhere. The streets were bustling with people and extremely prosperous.
Looking around, there are rows of shops on both sides of the street, some selling snacks, some selling jewelry, and some selling silk.
Among them, a shop named 'Yida Trading Company' is spacious and majestic. Men, women, old and children are constantly going in and out of it. The clothes are expensive and cheap, but the picture is unexpectedly harmonious.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't pay attention. After a cursory glance, the carriage moved forward quickly, leaving the trading company behind.
After entering the city, not only were the wooden tracks not cut off, but they were placed more criss-crossing the roads, yet everything seemed orderly.
At every street entrance there is a soldier from the Road Department, holding a red and green flag, directing traffic.
As the carriage stopped and stopped, Zhu Yuanzhang finally understood that if the red flag was raised, it would stop, and if the green flag was raised, it would be allowed to pass.
Looking at the vehicles and pedestrians passing by in an orderly manner, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction: "This method is very wonderful. We should also learn from it after we return to the capital."
Zhu Yunwen was a little disdainful, thinking that it was just some trivial tricks, but he still responded: "My grandpa is right, my grandson will try it when he gets back, and he will do the same in the capital."
After hearing what he said, Zhu Yuanzhang was noncommittal and looked back at Zhu Yunxi: "What do you think?"
Zhu Yunxi hesitated for a long time, and finally plucked up the courage to whisper:
"My grandson doesn't understand much. He just feels that this traffic matter seems very small, but there seems to be some truth in it. My grandson is a little confused. Maybe he can ask Mr. Su for advice after meeting him."
"Well, it's good to be humble and eager to learn."
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't make any comments, Zhu Yunwen continued to talk and laugh with Zhu Yuanzhang proudly, while Zhu Yunxi seemed to be used to it and sat back in silence.
